Summary of Best Practices in Electric Vehicle Ordinances

1 Summary of Best Practices in Electric Vehicle Ordinances BY CLAIRE COOKE AND BRIAN ROSS. JUNE 2019. This ordinance guide was developed based upon funding from the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Managing and Operating Contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the US Department of Energy. About the Great Plains Institute A nonpartisan, national, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. We combine a unique consensus- building approach, expert knowledge, research and analysis, and local action to find and implement lasting solutions. Learn more at For more information on this ordinance Summary , please contact Brian Ross, Senior Program Director at Contents Overview.

2 4. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations as Permitted Land Uses .. 6. Electric Vehicle Make-Ready Standards .. 7. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Standards .. 9. Electric Vehicle Parking Space Design and Location .. 11. Required EV Parking Capacity & Minimum Parking 13. Electric Vehicle -Designed Parking Use Standards and Protections .. 17. Signage, Safety, and Other Standards .. 19. Definition of Terms .. 22. 3. Overview This document is a Summary guide to Electric Vehicle (EV) and Electric Vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) Ordinances in the US. 1 The guide is sorted into best practice categories and provides a Summary of typical provisions used by cities for each category. Each category includes a table with key points and text examples from actual Ordinances , as well as recommendations from model codes for that topic, drawn from one of several model Ordinances , or ordinance guidance documents that have been developed to inform cities on developing EV- ready zoning standards.

3 This Summary is provided as a reference to cities seeking to develop EV zoning standards or development regulations. The Summary does not address building or Electric codes, only zoning ordinance language and associated tools. The examples are not intended to constitute recommendations, but rather to show the breadth of choices made by communities across the nation to integrate EVSE into development regulation. The ordinance language in the following tables are drawn from the zoning Ordinances of the following cities. To see the full context of each example, click on the links below and use the search function within the ordinance document to find the relevant example. Atlanta, GA. Auburn Hills, MI.

4 Chelan, WA. Des Moines, WA. Douglas County, WA. Duluth, MN. Golden Valley, MN. Howard County, MD. Indianapolis, IN. Kansas City, MO. Methuen, MA. Middletown, CT. Montgomery County, MD. Mountlake Terrace, WA. New Orleans, LA. Saint Paul, MN. Salt Lake City, UT. St. Louis Park, MN. The inventory of adopted Ordinances also included a scan of model zoning Ordinances and ordinance guidance documents for how local governments can use their zoning codes to help electrify transportation. 1. This is not a complete inventory but rather a representative sample of Ordinances from cities throughout the United States. 4. The guides and model Ordinances are listed below, with links, along with their region of origin: Europe: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines for Cities Georgia: Model Municipal Ordinance (click on the first hyperlink in Section II, A).

5 Iowa: Leading the Charge: City Codes and Electric Vehicles Midwest: Principles for EV-Ready Communities New Jersey: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Readiness: A Guidebook for Municipalities New York: Literature Review Summary : Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Signage Guidance New York: Promoting Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installations Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: Creating EV-Ready Towns and Cities: A Guide to Planning and Policy Tools Santa Clara County, CA: Plug-in Electric Vehicle Best Practices Compendium Washington: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: A Guide for Local Governments in Washington State Washington: Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness plan 5. 1. Electric Vehicle Charging Station as Permitted Land Uses Information related to where EV charging stations (or specific types of EV stations) are permitted.

6 Charging stations are likely to be an accessory use but may also be a principal use in some instances. Ordinances clarify where these land uses are permitted to streamline the installation of infrastructure that serves a public purpose. Typical Ordinance Includes Language Example Specification: City, State: Text: Treats different types of EVSE as Level 1 and 2 Electric Vehicle charging different land uses and may distinguish stations are a permitted use in all zoning between where different types of charging districts Level 3 Electric Vehicle charging stations are allowed. Chelan, stations are a permitted use in the Charging station types are WA Warehouse and Industrial (WI), Highway typically distinguished as different Service Commercial (C-HS), , zoning levels contingent on charging districts.

7 Speed (see definitions p11-12). Most often, levels 1 & 2 are allowed in all zones while level 3. stations are restricted to specific Levels 1, 2, and 3 Electric Vehicle charging zoning districts. stations are allowed in all zoning o May provide a table to designations.. Des delineate use permitted Moines, WA. zoning districts for each station type. May also allow for all three levels in all zoning districts. Installation shall be subject to permit Auburn approval administered by the Community Hills, MI. Development Department.. May require a conditional or special use permit for charging stations in specific Level 3 Electric Vehicle charging zones. Chelan, stations require a conditional use permit in WA Downtown Mixed Use (DMU), Tourist Accommodation (T-A), zoning districts.

8 No property or parcel may have more than New one Electric Vehicle charger installed in the Orleans, right-of-way adjacent to such property or May place restrictions on charging LA. parcel.. stations in the right of way. Des Electric Vehicle charging stations are not Moines, WA permitted within the city right-of-way . 6. EV Guide and Model Code Recommendations Model Code Document Name: Iowa Clean Cities Coalition, Leading the Recommendation: Define what types of EVSE are Charge: City Codes and Electric Vehicles allowable by land use type.. Reasoning: By establishing compatible charging stations according to land use types, cities can eliminate confusion about what is and isn't allowable while also affirming the desirability of EVSE within the community.

9 2. Electric Vehicle Make-Ready Standards Requirements and standards for installing the infrastructure to support EVSE (also known as make-ready ), other than the installation of the EVSE equipment itself. Make-ready standards are to prepare, at the time of construction, for future installation of chargers. Make-ready requirements capture savings by avoiding future costly retrofits to install chargers and have minimal impacts on the construction or renovation costs for the parking facility. Typical Ordinance Includes Language Example Specification: City, State: Text: For new occupancies subject to this section: at least 1 parking space for each 25. residential units shall feature energized Howard outlets; and a residential unit with a garage, County, carport, or driveway shall feature MD appropriate Electric Vehicle supply equipment consisting of conductors, connectors,[ ] so that an energized outlet may be added in the future.

10 May require or recommend the installation of appropriate electrical Multiple-Family Residential Land Uses: all capacity and conduits to support future new, expanded and reconstructed parking EVSE. areas shall provide the electrical capacity St. Louis necessary to accommodate the future Park, MN. hardwire installation of Level 2 EVCSs for a minimum of 10% of required parking spaces.. Non-Residential Land Uses: all new, St. Louis expanded and reconstructed parking areas Park, MN shall provide the electrical capacity necessary to accommodate the future hardwire installation of Level 2 or DC. 7. EVCSs for a minimum of 10% of required parking spaces.. In order to proactively plan for and accommodate the anticipated future growth in market demand for Electric vehicles, it is strongly encouraged, but not required, that all new one-family and multiple-family Auburn homes with garages be constructed to Hills, MI.